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Bay sidelined by sore hamstring

Bay sidelined by sore hamstring

ANAHEIM -- An already thin Mariners roster took another hit Monday when outfielder Jason Bay was held out of the series opener against the Angels with a sore hamstring muscle.

Bay normally would have been in the lineup against the left-handed Jason Vargas, but Raul Ibanez instead got the call after the 34-year-old Bay felt his hamstring tighten up during Sunday's game in Oakland.

"He got a little knot in there," manager Eric Wedge said. "We got him out here early and tried to have him run a little bit, but we talked about it and felt we'd be putting him in harm's way."

Wedge is already operating with Michael Morse playing first base while still hampered by a sore right quadriceps and Kendrys Morales limited strictly to designated hitter duties by a sore back.

Justin Smoak is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list as he continues a Minor League rehab stint with Triple-A Tacoma due to a strained oblique, but the first baseman went 0-for-4 on Sunday and is hitting .188 (3-for-16) in four games with the Rainiers.

General manager Jack Zduriencik is with the Rainiers in Sacramento and planned to watch Smoak play again Monday night before the club talked further about whether he's ready to return.